Just last month, on June 8, country music star Conner Smith was driving his pickup truck through his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee. He was back in town to perform for the CMA Fest. Tragically, he ended up striking a 77-year-old woman named Dorothy Dobbins. She had been attempting to cross the street at the time through a crosswalk.
Smith reportedly remained at the scene and immediately tried his best to provide aid to Dobbins. Paramedics arrived quickly, and Dobbins was rushed to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Unfortunately, she later died.
Now, for the first time since the fatal accident, Smith is finally speaking out publicly through an Instagram post he shared to his page on Friday, July 11.
“Four weeks ago, I was involved in a tragic vehicle accident that resulted in the loss of a life. Not a day has gone by that I haven’t grieved, prayed, and mourned for Ms. Dobbins and her family,” he began his statement.
“My heart is broken in a way I’ve never experienced, and I still struggle to fully process the weight of it all,” he continued. “I ask that you continue to lift the Dobbins family up in prayer by name, asking for God’s peace to surround them each day.”
According to police, this is not a case of driving under the influence, and Smith showed no signs of impairment at the time of the crash. Nor did he show any signs of distracted driving.
Despite this, Smith has still been hit with a Class A misdemeanor charge following the conclusion of a police investigation. Failure to Yield the Right of Way Resulting in Death,
Smith has not performed since the accident, saying, “I have always found that making music and playing shows is a place of healing for me – but for this moment, it was important for me to take time away.”
